For those who have donated - I wish I could hug every one of you. He is my ray of sunshine (I love watching him run - that little butt!!) and now that we look forward to his recovery. Thank you for giving us the gift of love and togetherness.
~ Basil's mom
hi. My name is Basil. I’m named for a British TV show my hoomans loved. But don’t worry, I don’t bark with a British accent so you’ll be able to understand me just fine.
I joined my family when I was four months old. Times were kind of tough then for my mom and my hooman brother. Mom lost her sweet dog and the house was too quiet. I gave everyone in the house lots of love and reminded my mom every day that she was my number 1 person.
My hooman brother has some medical issues and I was JUST what he needed. I helped him have something to focus on. If you know about doxies - we ARE a full time job and challenge. He probably won’t admit it, but he really loves me and gives me super snuggles when others aren’t around.
I was sooooo successful in helping him that we decided to add another member to the family. Goose (a Red Bone Coonhound) came to stay with us. He is a whole 1 month younger than me - but really big. REALLY big. We became best friends immediately. He eventually became my brother’s service animal - but that doesn’t stop us from being bestest friends. We try to play (he is about 100 pounds and I top in around 18). I cannot imagine a day without Goose. Other people tell me that there is a size difference - I don’t see it, I take his toys all the time and drag them up the ramps to be on the couch.
But I guess I took wrestling with Goose a little too far. I had been having a little trouble with my back and I’d been going to this nice lady who was going to help me. She sticks pins ALL over me!!! And then she runs this laser thingy over my back. We thought this would fix my problems but one morning I woke up and I couldn’t use my back legs at all. It scared me. It scared my mom and brother too!
I ended up at this big hospital place and they said I needed surgery and it was gonna cost a lot of money. My mom just cried because I heard her say she had no way of getting $8000.
But she didn’t wanna lose me. She had just lost a dog a few months ago and she could not bear the thought of losing another baby. And Goose depends on me being around - I couldn’t just leave him, and my hooman brother even though he has Goose - he cares for me so much.
I wanted to stay with my family and keep helping, but I was in so much pain and I couldn’t do anything. I couldn’t even stand up. The good news is there’s a happy ending to our story. I’ll let mom tell you about it.
From Basil’sMom:
When Basil lost use of his rear legs, all I could do was cry. I did everything a good doxie mom does - we have ramps up the couch, we have ramps to go outside. I tried to keep him from jumping and always played carefully. Also Goose and Basil are a bonded pair - I never really understood what that meant, but while Basil was at the hospital Goose was out of his mind. He still performed his service duties, but he would search the house looking for him.
Since my husband passed, I depend on my babies for unconditional love. There is nothing that moves me more than coming home and having Basil greet me at the top of the stairs - little butt wiggling all over and dancing around.
I was desperate not to lose him, but I couldn’t stand by and watch him suffer and be in pain. It was a very long 48 hours going back and forth - what to do. I didn't feel it was fair to keep him alive because I needed him, That felt selfish. It was the week before Mother’s Day and he is my only ‘baby” left. I thought I was sure that soon I’d be picking him up from The Pines Pet Cemetery. I just didn’t know what to do.
He had a treatment on Tuesday morning with our wonderful Alternative Vet. She realized how serious the condition was and sent me home but told me to keep the faith, she had an idea. I took him home and went back to work. By the time I sat down I had a call from her stating that a miracle had happened and that the donors of Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund were going to help me cover his costs. I had maxed out my credit card - but you were able to cover the costs that I could not. Lots more tears - but tears of joy - the fact that you were going to give my little 4 -year- old baby a chance to be a normal dog again. When I donated in the past, I NEVER could have guessed that some day I’d need the help. I cannot thank you enough for giving me hope, giving me my little Basil back. He has only been home 3 days but already has put smiles on our faces. I have to guard him because Goose wanted to kiss him all over.
For those who have donated - I wish I could hug every one of you. He is my ray of sunshine (I love watching him run - that little butt!!) and now that we look forward to his recovery. Thank you for giving us the gift of love and togetherness.
—Basil’sMom
